Limited access for staff as Telford locks changed
The Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre liquidators have changed the locks at Telford to limit staff access in the midst of a receivership lock-down at Balclutha.
Telford residential manager Daniel Maze, one of about 30 staff whose pay would be suspended today because of its tertiary provider receivership woes, said the lock changing was expected but still a shock on top of other shocks.
‘‘We were told it would happen, but we didn’t realise it was going to happen yesterday.’’
He understood it was a precautionary measure as part of the liquidation process while the receiver assessed assets.
Maze was one of three managers, including Telford head Don McLaren and work executive coordinator Allan Roxburgh, who lived on campus and had been asked to stay to look after the buildings and security.
They were the only staff members who now had keys, Maze said.
Each of them was faced with not only a loss of job but of home as well after Monday. ‘‘These are sad times. We’re all gutted and shocked, because we didn’t see it coming and we are waiting to hear.’’ No-one knew when a decision would be made but it was understood that it was likely to be Monday, when a nonpublic meeting was set to be held at Clutha District Council for all involved in Telford’s future.
This would include a decision about a new tertiary provider, with the Southern Institute of Technology tipped to take over.
‘‘We’re just taking it day-byday, but staff can’t afford to hold on forever. This could take a month or two to work out,’’ Maze said.
He said the community support from New Zealand First MP Mark Patterson had been ‘‘just amazing’’.
Patterson had gone into bat at a government level to come up with rescue package, and Clutha mayor Bryan Cadogan at a local level.
Balclutha-based regional economic advocates Clutha Development had visited staff on Thursday to look at other job options in the worst case scenario for Telford.
However, while Maze said he was sure some staff would be polishing up their CVs, he was not aware that anyone had ‘‘jumped ship’’ yet.
‘‘I think we will fight til the bitter end.
‘‘We want to hang on as long as we can and see if the place can thrive.
‘‘If you lose staff, you lose a knowledge, and then you’ve got nothing but empty buildings.’’
Cadogan said despite a dire situation, he was optimistic that Telford would be opening its doors in February for the new term.